From Mob Princess to Mugshot Photographer novel Chapter 44

**Chapter 8**

Olivia found herself standing before the precinct doors, her fingers instinctively tightening around the familiar weight of her police badge. It felt like a lifeline, a connection to her past, yet it also reminded her of the void that had lingered in her memory for the last three years.

Three years. In that span, countless moments had slipped through her fingers, leaving her with the nagging sense that a crucial piece of her identity was missing, as if she were a jigsaw puzzle with a piece forever lost.

Her body, however, remembered the rigorous training she had undergone, the late nights spent honing her skills, the adrenaline of chasing down leads. Deep down, she had always known that her identity was far more complex than the badge she wore.

It was only after she had left Alexander that the uncertainty of her return to this place had truly settled in. Would she ever be able to come back, to face the ghosts of her past?

As she stood there, the glass doors of the precinct reflected her lean frame, her short hair neatly framing her face. Yet, the softness that once inhabited her eyes had vanished, replaced by a quiet intensity that spoke of battles fought and scars earned.

Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she pushed open the door, and the familiar sounds of the precinct enveloped her. Her heartbeat quickened, a mixture of excitement and anxiety swirling within her.

“Is that… Olivia Hayes?!”

The shout erupted from the lobby, echoing through the bustling space.

In an instant, the entire Major Crimes bullpen came alive, a cacophony of voices rising in joyous disbelief.

“It’s her! It’s really Olivia!”

“Officer Hayes! You’re alive?!”

“You goddamn kid! Where the hell have you been?! Do you have any idea how hard we looked for you?!”

As she took in the anxious, elated faces of her former team, Olivia felt a rush of emotion welling up inside her, tears threatening to spill over.

The moment she crossed the threshold, she was engulfed by her colleagues.

Rough pats on the back, teary-eyed exclamations about her absence, and one officer pulled her into a tight embrace, his voice thick with emotion as he finally broke down into sobs.

“Did you even have a clue that we thought you were fucking dead?!”

It was Captain Donovan, her old mentor, his hair now streaked with grey, yet his eyes retained their sharpness, piercing through the noise of the precinct.

Olivia’s throat tightened, her nose tingling as she struggled to find her voice. “Captain… I’m sorry.”

“Sorry my ass!” Captain Donovan ruffled her hair affectionately, his voice thick with emotion. “You’re back. That’s all that matters.”

From somewhere behind her, a voice rang out, “Welcome back to the force!”

The bullpen erupted in a chorus of cheers, applause, and whistles, a raucous celebration that filled the air with warmth and camaraderie.

For a moment, Olivia froze, her heart swelling with a mix of joy and disbelief as tears streamed down her cheeks.

She was… finally home.

The welcome was simple, yet fierce in its sincerity.

Her Major Crimes colleagues had even baked her a cake, the words “WELCOME BACK, OLIVIA HAYES” scrawled messily across the top, accompanied by a hilariously crude stick-figure cop.

A laugh bubbled up from her chest, though it caught in her throat, a bittersweet reminder of everything she had endured. As she moved to cut the cake, she noticed her hand trembling slightly, a sign of the emotions she was grappling with.

“So, where the hell have you been for the last three years?” someone blurted out, breaking the momentary silence.

Olivia stilled, her gaze dropping to her badge, her fingers absently tracing the emblem.

Dressed in a crisp white shirt and tailored black trousers, the top button of his shirt was undone, revealing a glimpse of his pale collarbone. His sleeves were rolled up to his wrists, exposing lean, defined forearms that spoke of both strength and agility.

He was a stranger, strikingly handsome, and Olivia couldn’t help but take him in, a flicker of curiosity igniting within her.

Captain Donovan stood up, a broad smile lighting up his face. “Ethan! Perfect timing. Let me introduce you. This is Officer Olivia Hayes, just reinstated. She ran the undercover op on that cartel case.”

The man offered a slight smile, extending his hand towards Olivia. “Ethan Carter. I’m the special consultant assigned to this case.”

His hand was long-fingered and clean, with prominent knuckles that suggested a life of action. His palm was warm against hers, a brief but electric connection.

As Olivia shook his hand, she felt the distinct roughness of old calluses at the base of his trigger finger, a testament to his experience.

Ethan’s smile remained easy, yet his eyes held a depth that was hard to decipher. The handshake was brief and professional, yet it lingered in her mind.

His voice was a low rumble, filled with an undertone of respect. “I’ve heard a lot about you, Officer Hayes. I look forward to working together.”

Olivia met his gaze, feeling an inexplicable… something.

Perhaps it was the intensity of his gaze, or maybe her freshly recovered memories were playing tricks on her, but something about him felt significant.

After the introductions, her colleagues swept her off to the cafeteria, eager to celebrate her return.

As she walked amidst them, absorbing the rapid-fire gossip about the precinct over the last three years, a genuine smile crept onto her lips, warming her heart.

Unbeknownst to her, a pair of eyes remained fixed on her back, following her every step with a thoughtful intensity.

Ethan stood at the end of the corridor, his gaze narrowing slightly behind his glasses, watching her retreating figure with a mixture of curiosity and intrigue.